Browse Al Islam

Khataman-Nabiyyeen Through the Eyes of Hazrat Promised Messiah (as)

Dr Rasheed Syed Azam
Al-Nahl, Summer 1995

According to the Laws of God Almighty stated in the Holy Quran, the door to
prophethood in Islam will remain open till the end of this world (7:36). Only
Allah has the power to choose prophets (16:3) and prophethood is the highest
grace from Him and He bestows it on whomsoever He pleases (62:5). The rule now
is:

And whoso obeys Allah and this perfect Messenger shall be among those
on whom Allah has bestowed His blessings, i.e. the Prophets, the Truthful, the
Martyrs, and the Righteous. And they are an excellent company. (4 [Al-Nisa]:70)

The Holy Quran is the Perfect Book (2:3) and is the Complete Law (5:4). Therefore,
only an ummati Prophet can appear in Islam, who is obedient to Allah and follows
the Khataman-Nabiyyeen, the Perfect Messenger of Allah. No new Law (Shariah) is
needed but a true prophet is always a mercy from Allah sent to purify people and
guide them back to Allah. (79:19-20)

The Promised Messiah and Mahdi Alaihislam

The Promised Messiah and Mahdi of this age was Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908)
of Qadian, India, who came at the appointed time from Allah in accordance with
the Prophecy of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. He was sent
to revive the true Islam as revealed to the Holy Prophet by Allah in the Holy
Quran. He was an ummati Prophet. During his life on this earth he wrote more than
eighty books which are truly a running commentary of the Holy Quran and show his
dedication to the cause of Islam for the love of Allah and the Holy Prophet. Under
Allah's command he established his jamaat as Ahmadiyya Movement In Islam to unite
all humanity in love and peace under the banner of his master, Muhammad Mustafa
Sallallaho alaihe wasallam, the Khataman-Nabiyyeen.

The Promised Messiah's Sacred Writings

A person with even very little intellect and some honesty and fear of Allah can
easily discover by reading the sacred writings of the Promised Messiah that he
was indeed from Allah and his writings contain nothing but the truth about Islam
in its purest form. What does he say about the Holy Prophet? A small sample of
his writings is presented here for the discerning critic and enlightened readers:

The gist of our faith is: la ilaha illallaho Muhammad-ur-rasoolullah
(There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.) Our belief,
which we hold in this life here on earth and to which we will continue to adhere
firmly till the time that we pass on to the next world, is that our spiritual
leader and Master, Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is khataman-nabiyyeen,
the seal of the prophets and the best of the messengers. At his hands religion
has been consummated which guide man on the right path and further on to God
Himself. We hold this belief with absolute certainty that the Holy Quran is
the khatamul-kutub, the seal of all divine books, and not an iota can be added
to or subtracted from its prescribed teachings, inhibitions, commands and injunctions.
There will be no revelation or word from God which may amend or abrogate or
change or alter any of the injunctions of the Holy Quran. If anyone subscribes
to such views, in our opinion, he ceases to belong to the body of believers
and becomes a heretic and an infidel thereby.
(Roohani Khazain, Vol. 3, P. 170: Izala-e-Auham)

We do believe that there is none worthy of worship except God Almighty
and Sayyadena Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa, peace and blessings of Allah be upon
him, is His Messenger and khatamul-anbiya. We believe that Angels, Resurrection,
Day of Judgment, Heaven and Hell all are reality.
(Roohani Khazain, Vol. 14, P. 323: Ayyamus-Sulh)

It would not have been possible for me to have attained this grace
if I had not followed the footsteps of my lord and master, the pride of all
prophets, the best of mankind, Muhammad, the chosen one, peace and blessings
of Allah be upon him. Whatever I have achieved by following him, and I know
from my truly verified experience that no man can reach God to obtain a deeper
understanding of His ways without following this Prophet, may peace and blessings
of Allah be upon him. Now, let me also make it known that the very first thing
you are rewarded with, after having completely submitted yourself to the instructions
and teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, is that you are granted new heart
which is always rightly inclined. Such heart loses all love for this material
world and instead it begins to yearn for an everlasting and unending heavenly
pleasure. Having achieved this sublime state, your heart is now ready to receive
that perfect and purest love of God. All these blessings are bequeathed to you
as a spiritual heritage because of your complete obedience to the Holy Prophet,
peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
(Roohani Khazain, V. 22, P. 64-65: Haqeeqatul Wahee)

I have been made to understand that of all the Messengers, the one
who brought the perfect and purest of teachings full of wisdom, and one who
exhibited in him the noblest of human qualities, is the Holy Prophet Muhammad,
our lord and master, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
(Roohani Khazain, V. 17, P. 345, Arba'een 1.)

From a study of the life of the Holy Prophet, khatamal-anbiya, peace
and blessings of Allah be upon him, it will become manifest to every reader
that the Holy Prophet of Islam possessed exemplary character with purest heart.
He was ever ready to sacrifice his life for God, he pinned no hopes on men and
entertained no fear of them. He reposed his entire trust in Allah. Having enslaved
himself entirely to the will and pleasure of Allah, he did not care what hazards
he would face and what suffering he would be subjected to at the hands of the
idolators as a result of declaring to the world the message of the Unity of
God.
(Roohani Khazain, V. 1, P. 111, Braheene Ahmadiyya)

When we examine with fairness and justice all the prophets of the
past, we find that Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, the Holy
Prophet of Islam, stands out as the most valiant among them, the one who fully
possessed all the qualities of life and was the one most endeared to God.
(Roohani Khazain, V. 12, P. 82, Sirajual-Muneer)

The Holy Prophet, The Living Prophet

For all the children of Adam there is now no Messenger and intercessor
other than the Holy Prophet Muhammad, the chosen one, may peace and blessings
of Allah be upon him. So you should endeavor to cultivate true love for this
magnificent and majestic Prophet and not place any one else above him in any
manner so that you may be counted in Heaven among those who have attained salvation.
Remember also that salvation is not something which is attainable only after
death. Rather true salvation manifests its light in this world. Who is truly
delivered? One who believes that God is Truth and that the Holy Prophet, may
peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is the intercessor between God and
mankind; he also believes that under God's command there is no book of the status
of the Holy Quran. And for none else God proclaimed that he should live for
ever with his message and his law, but this Noble Prophet lives for ever.
(Roohani Khazain, Vol. 19, P. 13, Kashtee Nuh)

The Promised Messiah's Poetry: Love and Devotion to the Prophet

The Promised Messiah Alaihislam also wrote many beautiful poems to express his
love and devotion to the Holy Prophet of Islam. Here are a few samples:

Thy boundless blessings of peace
Be upon Mustafa, O God;
Verily through him we receive Thy Light.

My soul is eternally bonded
To the soul of Muhammad,
I made my heart drink deep,
Of the brimful cup of his love.

It was because of you that we
Became the best of all the peoples,
O Prophet of God who
Is the best of all the prophets.
As you marched ahead of all the rest,
We too stepped forward.

Let alone the human beings,
Even all the angels in the Heavens
Follow suit and join me,
As I sing thy praise.

(Roohani Khazain, V. 5, Pp 225-226, A'eena-e-Kamalate
Islam).

Our Perfect Leader

That leader of ours,
From whom radiates all light,
His name is Muhammad.
He is the one,
Who has captivated my heart.

All prophets are holy,
One better than the other.
From God on high he is,
The crown of all creatures.

Today he is the sovereign,
Of the world of religion,
The crown of all the Messengers.
The healthiest influence;
The purest, the most comely;
The most trustworthy,
The most dependable:
Allah this superlative praise,
Befits him alone.

(Roohani Khazain, V. 20, P. 456, Qadian Ke Ariya Aur
Ham)

Al-Qaseeda

The Promised Messiah has written very extensively, about his beliefs and his devotion
to God Almighty and his love for the Holy Prophet, primarily in Urdu but also
in Arabic and Persian languages to inform all Muslims about his claim and to show
them back the way to Allah through true essence of Islam. Al-Qaseeda,
a laudatory poem, is composed in flawless and fluent Arabic and is a literary
masterpiece in honor of Khataman-Nabiyyeen. This encomium has 70 couplets and
is included in the part of Roohani Khazain, Vol. 5, P. 590-594, A'eenae
Kamalate Islam. No one has dared to accept a challenge from the Promised
Messiah till this day to produce such glowing tribute to the Holy Prophet of Islam
in such an eloquent and elegant diction. The Qaseeda provides a unique
spiritual experience to a discerning critic with a longing heart and a keen eye.

The Promised Messiah's face was glowing with joy, it is reported by his companions,
when this Qaseeda was completed. Hazoor Aqdas addressing the Holy Prophet, conveys
his salutations and love and obedience with such pathos and glowing tributes
which has no parallel in human history. This empathy and the complete identification
with the Holy Prophet of Islam in cause of Allah was the reason that the Holy
Prophet is reported to have said that the Promised Messiah will reflect his
second coming and will be buried in his grave. What a tribute! The Promised
Messiah says (The number of couplet is given in the parenthesis at the end of
the couplet):

O my beloved, you are the ending fountain-head of Allah's blessings
and knowledge and the whole humanity is now looking up to you to quench their
spiritual thirst.(1)

Those who seek and discover that the cups of their life are empty
come running towards the ocean of your blessings filled by Allah's Grace.(2)

You are the spiritual sun who has brought light to the four corners
of the world.(3)

Your face reflects the glory of Allah and His attributes find expression
through your excellent character.(41)

Allah has bestowed upon you all the best and the highest qualities
of man and He has perfected the gift of prophethood in your person as Khataman-Nabiyyeen.(46)

I have received the gift of spiritual life through you, O my Master
and Perfect Leader, and I am nothing but your humble servant. What a miracle!
How well he raised me to life.(62)

O Lord, My Creator, Your everlasting blessings be upon the Holy Prophet
in this world and in the hereafter.(63)

Look at me, O My Master, with mercy and grace. I am your most humble
servant.(67)

Now, no rational person will fail to recognize the truth about the Promised Messiah
and his love for the Holy Prophet, khataman-nabiyyeen. The Promised Messiah appeared
at the right time according to the prophecy of the Holy Prophet and completed
his mission under Allah's commands.

Ahmadiyya Beliefs

Every Ahmadi Muslim, by the grace of Allah, believes that Jesus (Hazrat Eesa,
alaihissalaam) was a true and noble prophet of Allah and he died a natural death
at the end of his term on this earth and is buried in Kashmir, India. How long
the mullahs will continue to wait for `Messiah' to descend from Heaven? Only Heaven
knows! He never went up there with his physical body in the first place. Do they
ever study and understand the Holy Quran?

It is also our true belief that the prophethood in Islam will continue as
this view is supported by the Holy Quran, the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet and
reliable Ahadith, and all early true reformers and thinkers in Islam preceding
the advent of the Promised Messiah. The appearance of a follower (an ummati)
Prophet is contained in the meanings of khataman-nabiyyeen. We believe that
the Holy Prophet was so great that his followers can attain the status of prophethood
in Islam because no new law is now needed. Our God is a living God and talks
to His chosen ones even today.

Conclusion

Those people who falsely accuse Jamaat Ahmadiyya and its Holy Founder, Hazrat
Promised Messiah, alaihissalaam, to be disrespectful to Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa,
Khatamal-Anbiya, peace and blessings be upon him, do so without any fear of Allah
in their hearts. For them it would be sufficient to quote the following verse
of the Holy Quran:

Beware of the day of Judgment when We shall call people along with
their leaders. Whoever is given the book recorded with his deeds in his right
hand will be eager to read it and find that he will be dealt with mercy and
justice. But whoever remained spiritually blind in this world shall also be
blind in the Hereafter and will be even farther removed from the path leading
to Allah. (17:72,73)